dreaded_beast
First Post
First of all I just want to say that I have always been impressed at the maturity level of everyone here at EN World. 'nuff said.
Next let me say that I believe, as a person and in real life, that stealing is wrong but taking a life is much worse. I will leave it at that.
My question is for what is acceptable within your RPG campaign and what is considered acceptable for the characters or NPCs that you play.
In your campaign, which is worse, killing or stealing?
This came about in an old group when I played a rogue-type character who had reached a fairly high level along with some decent magic items. Based on his skills and equipment, he could be a fairly accomplished cat-burglar or thief.
To make things clear, my character had never played such a role in the past, but with the advent of my skills and equipment, I was more than up for such a role. I have always enjoyed playing stealthy-like characters and encounters.
During a session, I brought this up with the DM and the group, asking if I could attempt to play in such a manner, attempting to steal from crooked rich merchants or evil characters. My character's alignment was Chaotic Good, so I felt that stealing from crooked merchants would fit within my alignment. However, my main goal for wanting to steal was more for greed, but I would only target those who deserved it: crooked merchants, evil bad guys. On the other hand, my motivation was greed, but if it hurt the bad guys, so much the better.
Once I brought this before the entire group, the general response was stealing is a wrong and evil act. One player stated that anyone stealing from him (his character) would immediately attacked and killed. This was not in reference to my character, but just an example of his strong dislike for stealing. The DM agreed that stealing, especially for greed and even from "evil" characters, would still itself be an evil act.
However, I then brought up the arguement of "what about all those people we kill just because they are evil or think that evil?" My arguement was that taking a life is worse than stealing. The group still felt differently. So I basically said (something along the lines of):
"So it's better for us to gather information about an evil merchant, prove that he is evil, then storm into his house, and kill him because we have undeniable proof that he is evil (which is usually the case)? It would be more evil to steal from him causing his business to collapse while making some profit, but allowing him to keep his life."
This was met with "I don't know" and "if anyone steals from I will kill them with no problem" and "it's different when your fighting somone", etc.
In the end, I agreed to go with the group on this one, but it still sat wrong with me that "taking a life" is more acceptable than "stealing".
How is this handled in your campaign?
Next let me say that I believe, as a person and in real life, that stealing is wrong but taking a life is much worse. I will leave it at that.
My question is for what is acceptable within your RPG campaign and what is considered acceptable for the characters or NPCs that you play.
In your campaign, which is worse, killing or stealing?
This came about in an old group when I played a rogue-type character who had reached a fairly high level along with some decent magic items. Based on his skills and equipment, he could be a fairly accomplished cat-burglar or thief.
To make things clear, my character had never played such a role in the past, but with the advent of my skills and equipment, I was more than up for such a role. I have always enjoyed playing stealthy-like characters and encounters.
During a session, I brought this up with the DM and the group, asking if I could attempt to play in such a manner, attempting to steal from crooked rich merchants or evil characters. My character's alignment was Chaotic Good, so I felt that stealing from crooked merchants would fit within my alignment. However, my main goal for wanting to steal was more for greed, but I would only target those who deserved it: crooked merchants, evil bad guys. On the other hand, my motivation was greed, but if it hurt the bad guys, so much the better.
Once I brought this before the entire group, the general response was stealing is a wrong and evil act. One player stated that anyone stealing from him (his character) would immediately attacked and killed. This was not in reference to my character, but just an example of his strong dislike for stealing. The DM agreed that stealing, especially for greed and even from "evil" characters, would still itself be an evil act.
However, I then brought up the arguement of "what about all those people we kill just because they are evil or think that evil?" My arguement was that taking a life is worse than stealing. The group still felt differently. So I basically said (something along the lines of):
"So it's better for us to gather information about an evil merchant, prove that he is evil, then storm into his house, and kill him because we have undeniable proof that he is evil (which is usually the case)? It would be more evil to steal from him causing his business to collapse while making some profit, but allowing him to keep his life."
This was met with "I don't know" and "if anyone steals from I will kill them with no problem" and "it's different when your fighting somone", etc.
In the end, I agreed to go with the group on this one, but it still sat wrong with me that "taking a life" is more acceptable than "stealing".
How is this handled in your campaign?